Quotes Related to Early Childhood Education

"I have built-in empathy for poor children, as well as a deep belief, based on my own life, that just because you're poor that doesn't mean you're inadequate"   Edward Zigler

"In the good years, work very hard to win everything that's possibly winnable. In the bad years, work just as hard to keep your losses to a minimum. There are good times, and there are bad times. But you have to stay in the game."   Edward Zigler

"It's not about you, but what is best for your child."   Renatta Cooper

"Preschool is the most fundamental period in children's lives."   Sandy Escobido

'Teaching is not an Occupation but an Occu-Passion!"  Nefertiti K. Bruce

Personal Childhood Web

The five people in my life that nurtured and cared about me as a child.

 My mother and Dad( Madeline and James)- 

 They nurtured me and taught me right from wrong. They always told me that I could be anything I wanted to be in life all I had to do was follow rules to be successful. My mom and dad is the best thing ever because of their support in times I made mistakes in life and the encouragement to continue and not give up, when I thought it was rough and I could not go any more. Even if I made a mistake after my dad told me the right way to go and  chose my own way he was there to support me all the way. My mom and dad taught me before I entered 1st grade because the school system did not offer Kindergarten. Therefore they were my preschool teachers. They taught me to write, spell, count, provided me with social and emotional skills by taking me around other children such as my cousins and their friends children. Although I was an only child they taught me to share and how to make friends with my peers.

My teachers in Middle School

Left Upper- Mr. Chillis, Right upper- Mrs. Jones and bottom Mr.O"Neil

Theses Teachers were a great inspiration in my life. I remember when it was my first day in Middle school I was in foreign country, in fact in Ipswich, England. My father was in the air force and I traveled a lot as a child. The first person I met was my bus driver, Mr. Chillis, he was so kind to me that first day of school because I was very scared to get on a bus to go to a school I had no idea where I was going. He invited me to sit up front and he talked me about things I liked to do and what I wanted to do when I grew up. He was very warm and showed how much he cared for me. When we arrived at school he reminded me that he would be back to get and not to worry he would not leave and when I got out of school he was there for me too. I know longer had the fear of riding a school bus. Then I met Mrs. Jones and she was very kind and supportive about my school work and feelings. She gave me a picture of her when I was promoted to 8th grade and on the back of the picture she wrote, "To Gwen, May you find lots of happiness and joy in the future." I really appreciated her encouragement and she demonstrated how much she cared about me. Then when I got to 8th grade I met Mr. O'Neil he was funny and made you enjoy learning. He always cared about what my thoughts were about anything. To him no question was a dumb one. He was my History teacher and that was one of my weak subjects but he allowed me to use my imagination to help me learn and it worked.

I know I was only to talk about five people in my life that influenced me and continues to impact my life, then I can not leave out my Aunt Dorothy and two of my favorite Uncles. I will place them altogether as one group.

My Aunt and two of my Uncles



Aunt Dorothy



                                                                     

My aunt Dorothy, whom is my favorite aunt and the one that help make me be who I am. She helped me discover how to defend my self when needed. Gave me support and hugs as I grew, to let me know it will be alright no matter what situation occurred. She always had a listening ear when I had no one to talk too. She was there to hear every word and calm me down. She has been my inspiration in life by telling me," that no matter the obstacles that come your way, if I can do it so can you." I admire and respect her today for her will to accomplish her goals and succeed anything she wanted to do.









My Uncle Lawrence





My Uncle Lawrence has always been there to teach me to use the proper words when I got angry and to handle my battles with words by using how I felt about the situation not the person. He helped me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. He was not the hugger type of person but you always knew how much he cared by his smile and laugh. He always took time to play games and dance with me as a child. He would tell me that things are never that bad as you think just think about tomorrow and what is coming next.



Uncle David a true OHIO STATE Fan



Then comes my Uncle David who played with me as child. He would pretend to eat my mud pies, play school with me and my dolls and play sports. he loved sports and he taught me how to play baseball, football and we played tennis together. He was an outdoors man and he loved to take me to the park and run with me. When I was young he was my best friend until he moved to California. I was not very happy but he stayed in touch and every time I talked to him he would always asked "how are you doing and what are you doing to get closer to what you want in life?" I loved hearing that question because it always made me reexamine my thoughts of the future. He came back to Ohio when I grew up with a family of my own and he still said to me the same thing. He told me before he passed away that, "you are never to old to learn." He gave me the inspiration to go back to college and get my Masters Degree and here I am today working on my degree. If he was still living I know he would be very proud of me.



My quote that keeps me motivated every day.

"It is not about us, but about the children"

Children Books I love

My favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess. I like this book the most because it is very creative and there is rhyming, repetion, and illustrator is very colorful. I have taken that book when I was a teacher and extended in many different ways that the children studied this theme for a month. They learned math, science, social studies, health, mental health, literacy and language discovery during the entire theme study. All this occured just by reading the book with creative words and actions. The children loved the book also it is a great book to bring in all areas of learning.
The other book I like is Chicka, Chicka, Boom! Boom! This book is very colorful and it brings the alphabet to life which is awesome for young children. It introduces the alphabet forward and backwards and it can be placed on flannel board. I have a palm tree I use to in the reading center for the children to recite the book. It is great for teaching the alphabet and for children to recoginze the letters and you can extend it by using numbers, again this is a book that can be studied for a period of time also. Children can learn literacy, language, letter recoginition, social studies, science, health and math. It is  a great book.

This is a picture of my Aunt Dorothy, she has been my aspiration in life.

She has always encouraged me to work and get an education. When I began the career of an Early Childhood Educator, she would say, " I don't see how you can put up with children all day, but if you love it then do it with joy." I remember her words and I do love working with children and I do it in joy. But, what is so amazing, that a year ago she retired from the hospital after completing 48 years of dedicated service. She said, "she did not know what she was going to do now that she did not have to go to work

". I offered her to come and volunteer at my center as a Grandma. At first she was reluctant, but when she came the first day, she found out why I love my job so much and she comes 5 days a week, 5 hours a day with us. She is wonderful with the children and she has learned how valuable children need adults they can love and trust. The picture above is her sitting with the children while they were listening to a story from a real author. I believe she was just as excited as the children were.

My first day

This is my first day back in college and I am very excited to learn more about Early Childhood Education. I have been out of college since 2004 and it is exciting and new.